Palestinian inmates sneak sperm out of Israeli jails

NABLUS, Palestinian Territories (AFP) - A Palestinian medical centre said on Wednesday it had successfully carried out artificial insemination procedures by sneaking out the sperm of four Palestinians jailed by Israel.

"The successful experience of detainee Ammar Ziben encouraged other prisoners who managed to sneak out their sperm," the head of the Razan fertility clinic in Nablus, Dr Saalem Abu al-Kheizaran, told a news conference.

Ziben, who is serving 32 life sentences in an Israeli prison, had smuggled a sperm sample to his wife and in August a boy was born to the couple by Caesarian section.

Asked to comment on the announcement, Israel prison services spokesperson Sivan Weizman told AFP she "is aware of these rumours" but added she was "very sceptical" that it had taken place because of restrictions on prison visits.